THE farming unions in Wales have broadly welcomed the deal, but said they would need to study the detail to make sure that Welsh farmers do not lose out.

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan, who was in Luxembourg lobbying on behalf of Welsh farmers, said he welcomed the fact that an agreement had been reached.

"This means that we now know the direction that Europe's farm policy will take," he said.

NFU Cymru president Peredur Hughes who was also in Luxembourg,

described the deal as a crucial turning point in CAP but said, "Because so many options have been given to Member States we could easily end up with a patchwork of different policies operating across Europe."

And CAP reform could benefit farmland birds in Wales by enabling more money to be diverted into rural farming schemes that could benefit both farmers and wildlife.

RSPB Wales director Tim Stowe said

"This landmark agreement could help reverse the devastating declines in some of our most popular species of birds."